Wheatisimo and then some

[Mayo South Elgin]

Yeah we scoured the wheatie tree zone and there's evidently more where the previous came from.
It was a great day to be digging.

Today's tally included:
3 washers, a watch face, a 45 Cal. bullet, a kids heart ring (junk), Clad count of 2 quarters, 23 mem cents, 2 dimes and 4 nickels.
Wheaties consisted of 1917S, 1919 X3, 1924, 1935, 1941, 1950, 1956D X2, 1957D

I got really excited for a minute when I got a signal right at the base of a tree. Sounded like something silver and the depth gauge indicated about 6 to 8 inches. So I dig a deep plug, pop it out and the target is in the plug. Once I got it out of the plug I thought... Holey Cr*p - a three pence! It was just about the right size and just as thin as one of those.
I cleaned off the dirt and saw the words "Uncle Sam" and "Play Money"
I had a good laugh. In a pathetic why me? sort of way.

The 1888 Indian Head was a nice surprise, as was the 1935 Mercury Dime which was found at the base of another tree.

I'm not sure what the bugle player scene is on that round object. It's about the size of a half dollar. I was thinking it may have been the top of a snuff tin but I think it's aluminum. So would that make it a snuff aluminum? I kind of remember snuffalupagus or something like that.

Not pictured was the assorted usual junk including a fingernail clipper, a steel file which had an unknown father, assorted bits of welding slag and can slaw, and a large grommet which fooled me into thinking I had found a half dollar until I got the dirt off it.

[Lowbatts]

Yeah man! We each got an '88 IH at the spot!

Next time I get there I'm gonna call the cops on that domestic disturbance business, it's cutting into our site.

[DPBOB]

nice digs Mayo...

Those play money coins always sound nice and look nice til you wipe them off.....then...well you know....

[Skinny Puppy]

Maybe that's the Pied Piper calling out for more silver to come to you. Pretty cool whatever it is and good luck.

[PBK]

Great button!

It dates from the late 1800's and was inspired by "The Trumpeter of Sackingen," a poem written by Joseph Victor von Scheffel in 1853, later the basis for an opera of the same name by Viktor Nessler in 1884. Shortly after von Scheffel's death, Carl Schwenniger Jr. produced a series of ten paintings illustrating the "Trumpeter of Sackingen."

If the shank's intact, the button should be worth at least $25, and maybe as much as $50. Here's a link to one currently offered for $40:

http://www.cbweiser.com/cgi-bin/butt...ns&P=40.00&Q=Y

[litefire56]

Great hunt! I like that button!!

[twistidd]

Nice finds Mayo! Yeah, I hate seeing something that looks like a silver half coming out and then discovering it's not. Good thing your "half" turned out to be something cool!

Joe

[d-dub]

Nice digs, Mayo.

[Lowbatts]

Wow! PBK, you're awesome! Thanks for the info on that button!

Mayo thought it was a tin topper or something similar because it has no back, guess we gotta go back now and find the rest of it!

Hey Mayo, do you remember what branch of the tree it was under?

[etrac007]

CONGRATS ON SOME GREAT FINDS, RELLY LIKE THAT BUTTON!

[watercolor]

Mayo, that button is awesome

That's definitely worth the price of admission

[Mayo South Elgin]

Thanks for that info PBK!
Unfortunately there is no shank or pin on back of the button - just some remains of brazing.
I examined the edge a little more closely and it appears it is brass - not aluminum, and it's plated.
No idea what the plating is. Regardless, it's certainly a surprise to me how old it is based on the info supplied. I wonder how these were worn - as a single brooch or lapel pin or decoration on a hat or was there several of them as buttons on a coat?

Now if I find the rest of it... or another one, that would be even more cool!

[kimsdad]

Wow, Mayo!!! You were a busy digger! Great hunt with the Merc & Indian, and not that your button has been ID'ed by PBK, an even greater hunt!!!

WTG!